During
your free time there are many activities to do; You may visit the fishing town
of Peniche and its beautiful fortress, stroll by the magic Island of Baleal,
take a boat trip and travel to the natural attraction of Berlenga Island,
sunbath and bathe yourself on the many beaches in the area.
You
can go by car to the historic village of Óbidos and visit it`s medieval castle.
Don`t
forget the amazing local cuisine that can be enjoyed in the many restaurants in
the area and, finally, finishing the night in one of the many bars in the area.
Lisbon,
the country capital, is located one hour away by car and one and a half hours
away by bus.
The quaint fishing port of Peniche lies in the shelter
of a great headland on Portugal 's rugged Atlantic coast. As late as
the mid-16th century, the town was part of an 8-kilometre-wide island,
although an accumulation of sand gradually joined it to the mainland to
form the present peninsula.
A small area of 74.6 Km2, Peniche combines a large modern fishing
harbour with a 17th century military complex that symbolizes its
ancient strategic value.
Today the town is most famous for its lace-making and fishing, and of
course the abundance of gorgeous beaches and surf spots. With it
numerous fish restaurants, which during the summer serve up some of the
tastiest sardines in Portugal .
What to see
At the water's edge on the south side of town stands the 16th-century
Fortaleza , used as a prison during the repressive Salazar regime. It
now contains a museum of local archaeology and crafts, incorporating
former cells, solitary chambers and the visitors' grilles.
In Largo 5 de Outubro, the Church of the Misericórdia has 17th-century
painted ceiling panels depicting the life of Jesus Christ and patterned
azulejo glazed tiles from the same period. There are also frequent
festivals and markets offering the opportunity to buy goods from around
the world.
Nearby
A 3-km walk eastwards lies the breezy Cape Carvoeiro and the Chapel of
Our Lady of Remédios, which contains 18th-century blue and white
azulejo (glazed tiles).
About 12 Km from Cape Carvoeiro is a small group of islands called the Berlengas. Berlenga Island
itself, filled with mystery and beauty, is a nature reserve for the
nesting of various species of birds and the preservation of various
reptiles and other animals. You will also find there typical plants and
flowers unique to Portugal . Laced with grottoes and coves, the Berlenga Islands are an hour's journey by boat from Peniche. It also has a 17th-century fort.
Baleal is the name of an
island that is connected to Peniche through the accumulation of sand sediments that
creates a path that connects the mainland to the Island of Baleal.
“Baleia” means
whale in Portuguese. The name is due to its past, a place for
fishing whales that used to pass by during their migration to other seas.
Nowadays it is a place where people spend their holidays
and has excellent conditions for the practise of water sports. Because of its
natural geography the peninsula is much sought for the practise of Surf and
Bodyboard and also for fishing and diving.
It is a great place to walk by
the sea, enjoying the shape of the cliffs, listening to the ocean and get
inspiration for our everyday life.
Baleal Island is
about 300 metres from the base of Peniche Surf Camp.
Peniche surf camp
has several apartments in Baleal Island for you, like The Beach House, The Fisherman`s
House or the Baleia Apartments (check menu accommodation on our website).
About 12 Km
from Cape Carvoeiro there is a small group of islands called the Berlengas.
The Berlenga island is filled with mystery and
beauty. It is a natural reserve for the nesting of variousspecies of birds and the preservation of various reptiles and other
animals. You will also find there typical plants and flowers unique to
Portugal. Laced with grottoes and coves, the Berlenga Islands are
an hour's journey by boat from Peniche. It also has a 17th-century fort that
you can visit.
The main island
has around 1500 metres in length by 800 m wide and 85 m. tall.
The
numerous granite caves spread throughout the islands are one of its major
attractions, but its waters abundant in fish, calm and transparent remind us of
other tropical islands spread over the world that are increasingly captivating
tourists.
One
of the main attractions is the small beach of Mosteiro do Carreiro, where you
can enjoy a few hours of sun during the summer or even bathe yourself in its
peaceful and clear water with its shades of transparent green. It should be
noted that there are also more many other small beaches around the island,
where you can enjoy a little more privacy.
The S. João Baptista fortress which was completed
in 1666, has a main building in the embankment, with twelve rooms where once
operate the dependencies of service (House of the Command, Quarters of troops,
Stores, Kitchen and others) and has another
eight compartments attached inside of its walls.A corridor with no lighting gives access to the
various points within the fortress.
On the other hand there is a boat that makes
this trip twice a day. For more information go to our reception or contact us
through our email address Info@penichesurfcamp.com.
The
natural conditions of Peniche offer a large range of beautiful beaches like
Consolação, Super Tubos, Molho Leste, Praia da Baía (which has a length of 2.5
km), Baleal and the beaches of Béltico.
All
attract thousands of tourists every year, particularly in summer. However, as
there is so much extension of beach, you can always find a corner to relax.
Here
you can walk by the sea, practise some exercise, play beach volleyball and
football, beach tennis or simply sunbath and listen to the waves.
But
the beach is part of an ecosystem that needs protection for that reason please do
not pollute the environment and, if possible, clean the beach.
The Óbidos village
is about 15 minutes drive from the Peniche Surf Camp.
Óbidos
is a famous Portuguese village that has a medieval castle as its main
attraction.
Classified
as a National Monument, was installed in 1951, the Pousada de Óbidos, which
occupies the Manueline-style palace built in the early XVI century, and was recovered.
In
2007, the castle won the title of one of the 7 wonders of Portugal.
The
main points of interest beyond the castle itself, are: The Porta da Vila which
dates back to the XVIII century, the Capela da Nossa Senhora do Cramo, the
church of Santa Maria that also has some centuries of existence, the church
founded by Queen Leonor, Capela de S. Martinho, Santuário do Senhor da Pedra and the Museum.
If
you want more detailed information about Óbidos go to our reception.
Holidays are
synonym of fun, good food and drinks. In Peniche and Portugal in general these
conditions are guaranteed.
If
you like to go out of at night you have several discos and clubs as well a lot
of pubs and bars for different ages and budgets that can provide you many
opportunities for an excellent night. A short distance from the surf camp you
have Bar da Praia, the Cocktail Bar, the
Danau and the Bruno`s Bar that guarantee you a lot of entertainment. Sometimes
the parties last until morning but be careful, because surf is not compatible with
parties!!!
Due
to its qualities to attract tourists and people that practice water sports this
area is rich in restaurants where you can enjoy its famous fish dishes, like Sardines, Seabass, Cherne, etc. Also famous is
the “caldeirada” that is a kind of mixed fish and
shellfish. Speaking of seafood, if you like crabs, shrimp,
clams, spider crab, oysters, cockles, lobster etc. you are in the right place.
However there are restaurants for all tastes in case you don`t like fish and
equally for all budgets. Near the surf camp you have several quality
restaurants, the most famous of all is Prainha. If you want a more economic
meal there is the Restaurant Baleal à vista just around the corner. There are more
restaurants at walking distance like Febras, Gauchão, and others.
But be careful, you should not eat very much before surfing!!!
Lisbon is 1 hour distance
by car and 1h 45m by bus to the city of Peniche.
Besides
being the capital of the country, Lisbon is also the largest city of Portugal.
Lisbon
is one of the oldest cities in Europe. It was founded more than three thousand
years ago. Together with Setúbal, Alcácer do Sal and some cities in the Algarve,
Lisbon is the oldest in Portugal and also the second oldest capital of the
European Union, after Athens, older than Rome by four centuries.
Its
history evolves around the city’s strategic position at the mouth of the
largest river in the Peninsula Ibérica (Portugal and Spain), the Rio Tejo. Its
natural port gives the best conditions for the ships that trade between the North
Sea and the Mediterranean sea.
Because
of its history Lisbon is also equally rich in monuments worth visiting. You have the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, the
Torre de Belém, the Aqueduto das águas livres, the Castelo de S. jorge, the igreja
da Basilica da Estrela, etc.
But
the city of Lisbon is not just history, it is also modernity. It was already the
European Capital of Culture, received the announcement ceremony of the new 7
wonders of the world, received the opening ceremony of Euro 2004, held the Expo 98 and is where
one of the world’s largest aquariums was built, etc.
But
Lisbon is also a fun city with great animation and good food in many and several
restaurants in town, for all ages, tastes and budgets. If you like to go out at
night you have many possibilities, with many bars, discos, cinemas, theatres,
etc.
If
you want more detailed information about Lisbon go to our reception.
